There is more to Maine than lobsters. Some of the best hiking in the northeast US can be found here.
It's no easy task to choose the best hiking trails. If you want to see Maine's beautiful coastline, the Pine Tree State has a lot of hikes for you to choose from.
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The Atlantic Ocean and Maine's rocky coastline can be seen from the mountain peaks of the park. A lot of the trail requires climbing up iron rung ladders bolted to the granite.
There is a gradual path through the forest that leads to a trail marker. You will climb granite stairs, iron bridges, and iron rung ladders over boulders before you reach the top. You can see Sand Beach from the summit at 520ft. The Bowl Trail leads to an Alpine pond between Beehive and Gorham Mountain.
The distance is 5.2 miles and it takes 8 hours to do it.
The "Greatest Mountain" by the Penobscot is located in the center of a state park. This is Maine's tallest peak and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Mt Katahdin is a very strenuous hike and can take up to 12 hours to complete.
The Hunt Trail offers a scenic view of Maine's foothills and Katahdin Stream Falls. If you are well-prepared, you will be able to hike the famous 1.1-mile portion of Knife Edge.
Moderate distance of 8.2 miles.
The "Grand Canyon of the East" is on the West Branch of the Pleasant River and is 500 feet above the water. The Gulf Hagas can be reached through the Katahdin Iron Works Road in Brownville.
The river needs to be ford after the parking area. Depending on the season and the amount of rain, the water levels vary a lot. You can connect to the Gulf Hagas loop by walking along the Appalachian Trail through the Hermitage. There are lots of places to go for a swim on a hot summer day.
The distance is 1.1 miles.
One of Maine's most famous hikes is Mt Battie. The trail is short and steep, but doable for everyone. The town of Camden and Penobscot Bay can be seen from the summit of Mt Battie. The stone tower has great views and selfies.
It took 10 miles and 7 hours to do it.
Overlooking the Bay of Fundy is the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land. The nature preserve is a great place to see a variety of Maine's coastal flora. As you don't want to miss the sunrise, bring your camera.
The Fairy Head loop trail provides 4 miles of shorefront hiking before it runs inland through forests and grass marshes. There are a few camping spots available on a first come, first served basis.
Moderate for 3.8 miles.
One of the most popular day hikes in Maine is Tumbledown Mountain. This isn't the highest peak in the area or the peak with the best views, but it does have a couple of real attractions.
The easiest and most direct trail to the pond is the brook trail. The summit of West Peak is reached by the tumbledown ridge trail.
You will need to climb up metal rungs to reach the summit of the loop trail, which is the most difficult for experienced hikers. Enjoy the peace from the summit if you bring your swimsuit and picnic.
100 miles in 5 days.
The most challenging part of the Appalachian Trail is the 100 mile wilderness from the small central Maine town of Monson to the southern border of Baxter State Park. The best time to hike the 100 mile wilderness is in the summer.
You should expect to be trekking for up to 12 hours a day. The 100 miles will take you over 15000ft. It is an amazing opportunity to see Maine's wilderness and wildlife. Don't look away for moose.
The distance is 16.3 miles.
One of Backpacker Magazine's hardest day hikes in America is the Bigelow Mountain traverse. Some of the most amazing views of Maine's western mountains can be found on the traverse of the Bigelow Mountain Range via the Appalachian Trail.
The quad-burning hike is a point-to-point hike, so you need to plan accordingly. The ascent of Little Bigelow is gradual until you reach the top. The next 6.4 miles will take you to the summit of the mountain at 4088 feet above sea level. The ups and downs will continue until the end. There are plenty of tent platforms below the peak if you want to go on a weekend hike.
Moderate for 5.8 miles.
Pleasant Mountain is the tallest mountain in southern Maine at 2006 feet. There are six trails on Pleasant Mountain that cover over 10 miles. If you are lucky, you can see Mt Washington from the summit of Pleasant Mountain.
On a beautiful summer's day, the most popular and direct trail to the summit will be packed with other hikers. The Southwest Ridge Trail is a great option for nature lovers. You can relax on the granite ledges of the summit.
Moderate for 2.2 miles.
One of the first places in the US to see the sunrise is Cadillac Mountain. The hike to the summit is relatively easy compared to other hikes on the island. Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, and the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from the peak of Cadillac Mountain.
If you want to see the sunrise over America, you should hike in the middle of the night. The summit of the Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail is 1528 feet above sea level. Don't forget your cup of coffee.
The article was published in August of 2021.
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